Writing by Aminu Dalhatu;Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
Zamfara State Government says it has targeted about 1.4 million children for vaccination in this round of polio immunization, following the discovery of four new cases of poliomyelitis in the state.
The Incident Manager of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Zamfara State, Dr. Murtala Salaudeen, disclosed this during a media briefing held in Gusau, the Zamfara State Capital.
Dr. Salaudeen explained that 1,997 vaccination teams have been deployed across communities in the state to ensure that every eligible child is reached during the exercise.
According to him, the teams are adopting a house-to-house vaccination strategy to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.
“This time around, we have structured our operations around a house-to-house campaign. Each vaccinated child will receive an Indomie pack as an incentive to encourage participation and ensure a successful exercise across the state,” he said.
The Incident Manager noted that the immunization campaign was designed to protect children from the poliovirus and strengthen routine immunization coverage in the state.
He revealed that four new cases of poliomyelitis have recently been detected in two local government areas of the state, with three cases recorded in Gummi Local Government Area and one case in Tsafe Local Government Area.
Dr. Salaudeen assures parents and caregivers that the polio vaccine is safe for children.
“The vaccines are safe and will not harm any child. Instead, they will protect our children from a disease that can cause lifelong paralysis,” he said.
Dr. Salaudeen emphasized that the fight against poliomyelitis requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, including community leaders, health workers and development partners.
He maintained that the state government will continue to collaborate with partners to ensure the success of the immunization campaign.
In a remark, the Social Policy Specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sokoto Field Office, Mr. Isah Ibrahim, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the Zamfara State Government in improving child survival and healthcare delivery.
Mr. Ibrahim commended the state government for its efforts in promoting the wellbeing of citizens through the provision of healthcare services across the state.
Cov/Aminu Dalhatu.
